What are these small white flies and how can I identify them?

  • Thread starter Thread starter shina
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the identification of small white flies that the original poster encounters frequently. Participants explore various characteristics and potential types of these insects, seeking to clarify their identity and behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses excitement about identifying the small white flies but lacks specific information about them.
  • Another participant requests additional information regarding the geographic location of the original poster to assist in identification.
  • A third participant suggests that "white fly" typically refers to certain insects found on specific plants, such as fuchsia and tomatoes.
  • Another participant notes the existence of various small fly-like insects, including drain flies, and emphasizes the need for more details for accurate identification.
  • Suggestions are made to capture the flies for closer examination, either through photography or by using methods to immobilize them for identification.
  • Participants highlight important characteristics to observe, such as wing count, biting behavior, environmental conditions, and seasonal presence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that more information is needed to accurately identify the small white flies, and multiple potential types of insects are suggested. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific identity of the flies.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific visual evidence and detailed descriptions of the flies, which are necessary for accurate identification. Observations about environmental factors and insect behavior are also dependent on the original poster's context.

shina
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
hi friends,
I am very much excited to know about those white flies.
they are very small but much irritating. I usually went to my educational institution in morning where I could find them in large crowd. I always tried to search about it. I also googled many times but I could not recollect any specific information as I don't know its name.
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Need more information on these "white flies" :)

Where do you live?
 
There are lots of small fly-like things, for example drain flies, which can be smaller than Drosophila melanogaster (2-3 mm).
More information is needed or an ID.

You might want to catch some and look at them (probably with a magnifying glass or dissecting microscope) or photograph them (which is better, but it has to show details).
Many insects can be knocked out (undamaged dead would work too) with CO 2 gas or cold (refrigerator or freezer). Ether and other volatile organic solvents work too but can blow up or be toxic.

If you can get a picture, you could post it here and/or do a google image search (this can lead to websites with similar pictures which might provide an ID).
Take pictures of a several flies since there could be sexual dimorphism (different forms for different sexes).

Things to note:
How many wings do they have (true flies have one pair of obvious wings, most other insects have two pair)?
Do they bite?
Is there a lot of water around or some other place the larvae may live?
Size range?
Location (geographic, type of environment, temperature)
Are they around a long time or only for short periods of time during the year?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
13K
Replies
43
Views
22K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K